Cutting through delusion

The Samurai's sword, or Katana, is known for its razor sharp edge. With it, the Samurai were lethal warriors, able to cut through muscle and bone. The first inch or so of the blade is the most dangerous of the blade as it coming at you with the greatest momentum and reach.

The Katana is a slicing weapon....not a chopping weapon and would leave an enemy slashed open, usually at the wrist, forearms or elbows. Samurai fights did not last long. So, what does this have to do with cutting through delusion?

Your mind also has powerful weapons as sharp as Samurai's katana. (warning: advertisement...I cover this in my book: Black Belt Healing)....Without getting into too much detail, your mind-swords also have a sharp razor's edge. It is called Gratitude.

When you find yourself worried about the future or regretting the past it is time to pull out your mind-swords and start slicing with the cutting edge called Gratitude. Be thankful for where you are right now, right here, with whatever situation you are involved in. Gratitude, when swung properly, will slice and cut through the delusion of your small ego-driven self and help you see the splendor of what it 'is'. Reality as it is 'issing' will be open to you and transform your life.

Gratitude is the razor's edge of now as it is nowing...is as it issing. It cut's open and bleeds out the delusion of separateness and incompleteness. You will be able to see as if your blinders were cut away.

Give it try....be thankful for everything that is right now, whether you are comfortable or uncomfortable with it. Swing that sword...train its use...and watch this sword give you life. This is Budo, the Way of the Warrior.

Hands palm to palm,

Shinzen

Sheathing the Sword

Sheathing a Katana, the Samurai's razor-sharp sword, is an art in and of itself. Iaido, the art of drawing the sword, ends with sheathing and bowing. Sheathing the sword is an extremely important part of Iaido as it is putting the sword 'to rest'.

For those who have followed my blog for awhile, you know I consider the mind to be a sword as well. If you do not train in its use properly it will harm you, but if you discipline your mind it will save you. Thus the old Japanese sayings of 'the sword either will take or give you life'. When your thoughts run rampant and are full of worry and anxiety, this sword will cut you up....but if your thoughts are full of joy and faith, this sword will give you life.

Well, what about the sword that is not cutting? The mind that is not judging or discriminating? What about the mind that is 'sheathed'...put to rest? This is the mind at peace. There is an old Zen poem about Faith Mind and is called the 'Hsin Hsin Ming'. One of the phrases talks about how peace of mind is easy, if we do not pick and choose. Discriminating, judging is the cause of our mental dis-ease. This is your mind-sword cutting your life into separate

existences...dualities.

To put your sword to rest is the practice of Zazen. The practice of sitting upon the razor's edge...not cutting, not judging...just sitting there...fully present...knowing if you move you get 'cut' and your mind will not be at ease. To be able to 'still' the mind so it sets upon the sword's edge is truly an artform and requires daily practice. You then can see your life in its totality...not the cut up pieces you have left on the floor.

As a warrior, of Zen and Budo, please make it a practice to set a daily time for formal Zazen and throughout the day, practice Mindfulness of Mind, Body, Breath, Spirit. Sit on the razor's edge of the Katana called Now. Peace is there. Why do you think the Samurai, the Shaolin monks and other Warrior cultures practice meditation?

Hands palm to palm,

Shinzen